VIDEO: Virtual New York Giants legends battle Dallas in Madden NFL 20 simulation

RADIO.COM hosted a virtual showdown between New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys legends at a pixelated version of MetLife Stadium.

The ongoing pandemic has eliminated a lot of the norms of daily life that we take for granted. Close games between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have apparently managed to become an exception. RADIO.COM hosted a virtual showdown between legends of the Giants and Cowboys in a simulation presented on EA Sports’ Madden NFL 20 video game. The internet radio platform and music recommender is a property of Entercom, which owns both WFAN and 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), the respective flagship radio stations of New York and Dallas respectively.

Replicas of players from each of the respective teams’ history, spanning over 150 combined seasons of football, partook in the simulation, which Dallas won by a 23-20 final thanks to a Dan Bailey field goal with 18 seconds to go.

The Giants, dressed in their home unforms worn from 1976 through 1998, jumped out to an early lead that they held for a majority of the first half. Emlen Tunnell intercepted a Roger Staubach pass on Dallas’ first play from scrimmage. Eli Manning needed only three plays to capitalize, finding Odell Beckham Jr. for an eight-yard score. Between Bailey field goals, Manning threw his second touchdown pass on the end of an 11-play, 75-yard drive, this one going to Jeremy Shockey from seven yards out. Manning was bought some time in the pocket by an offensive that consisted of Rosey Brown, Shaun O’Hara, Mel Hein, Chris Snee, and David Diehl before finding Shockey for a score that brought digital MetLife Stadium to its feet.

Dallas ventured into the Giants’ red zone, but Corey Webster’s interception took a touchdown reception from Michael Irvin. However, the expected momentum solidification never came. Manning found Beckham on the Giants’ next offensive play, but a fumble forced by DeMarcus Ware was picked up by fellow linebacker Sean Lee for a touchdown. Lawrence Tynes booted a 47-yard field goal to slightly inflate the Giants’ lead, but Emmitt Smith gave the Cowboys their first lead on a 75-yard scoring rush just as the two-minute warning commenced.

The Giants got back to the Dallas red zone with no timeouts, but Shockey’s attempt to score a last-second touchdown after breaking several tackles was thwarted by Byron Jones, who stopped the tight end just short of the goal line as time expired.

Both team’s defensive stars rose to the occasion in the second half. Tunnell, Mark Collins (who was wearing No. 24 in contrast to his traditional No. 25) and Michael Strahan were among those with sacks for the Giants, but they only mustered another Tynes field goal on offense. After Bailey’s fateful boot, the Giants’ brief counter got to Dallas’ 40 after Manning found Amani Toomer for a big gain. However, the virtual New York brain trust opted for a win rather than a deep Tynes attempt, and Manning’s prayer with Shockey in the vicinity fell incomplete to end the game.

Toomer earned 143 yards on 10 receptions, while Manning finished the game 39-of-53 with 352 and the two scores.

The modern-day, human incarnations of the Giants and Cowboys are currently set to face off on October 11 and January 3.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags